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Thursday, October 11, 2007

L'Esquirol

It's Fall inParis and squirrels/L'Esquirolare EVERYWHERE.

Even in the Metro!

La Mere de Famile always keeps their windows in tune with the seasons. Les Folies, cocoa powder-covered almonds are their Fall specialty. They have complimentary samples at the cash to tempt you when you pay for other items.

Marie-Noelle translated this for me but I've forgotten of course. Something to the effect that the squirrel symbolizes economy and preparedness. My father used to remind me to follow their example. Learn to think ahead for the oncoming winter. Get my nuts lined up in a row etc. Instead I played like the grasshopper... Hmmm...still playing too much...

La Maison du Chocolat has some very nice nuts lined up in a row in their Fall windows. I would happily squirrel these away.A pretty Fall still life in an antique shop window in the Marais.

Ah, la Place des Vosges and Le Marais ... what a lively neighbourhood. Memories from a few weeks ago. After an excellent lunch I rested a bit and took a nap exactly at the same place shown in your photograph...

What a lovely nod to the season. It makes me wonder what is is the flower market there? The place in the park...one could squirrel away some beautiful moments there. Fabulous. Love the cocoa bean filled with fall treats.

Today we have a cool spell moving through VA, so your post is very appropos, Carol. Lots of fall colors always make me excited for brisk weather coming our way. (not too cold, but brisk I like...;) As for your grasshopper/squirrels, you're reading too much Aesop. Just be you! That's who you are.

Cocoa powder-covered almonds. Cocoa powder-covered almonds. Cocoa powder-covered almonds. How could you! I can smell them! I know the fragrance they emanate when I open that little foil packages with the goodies. I smell them. The shops are open another 40 minutes. Mad dash?Oh, how could you! Open with that cute little squirrel (a RED one, not those grey treerats from the East-Coast who are endangering the European Squirrel in Great Britain, they are at the brink of extinction!). And then, all of a sudden, jump those cocoa powder-covered almonds on me. Cocoa powder-covered almonds! Are you going to paint them, too? May I ask for an advance notice when this day will come?

Ok, I am serious now. Forget about those cocoa powder-covered almonds! Who wants'em almonds? Natch. This is such an uplifting post (this I really really mean!), I am having so much fun looking at all those store windows. Drooling, really. Oh my goodness, cocoa powder-covered almonds. Oopsiedaisy, I slipped. Sorry.Anyway, I see you are happily emerging yourself in French cocoa powder-covered almonds ... oops ... brake ... sorry!

Have fun, squirrel away as much as you can, we may need your sweet morsels (yesh! I did NOT write cocoa powder-covered almonds!) when winter rolls around.

loved your blog about making the macaroons! What fun! I would be in a whole lot of trouble with the class being in French, though. My brain would probably explode. I'd love to take all the macaroons home, though.Thanks, too, for the contraband photos in the museum the other day...lovely!As for squirrels; I saw one today in SW Florida going up a palm tree...I wonder if they eat the palm fruit? Wish I were there.

I'm going to Sicily this sunday for 10 days, on my way back I'm going through Paris, will head to Roussillon, I saw your blog on Roussillon and am going there, will be in Paris 11/1 and 11/2 before going home to Ca. Thanks, Carol

My dog is very excited about squirrels - he is an expert squirrel-chaser (I'm still waiting for him to catch one! They are such pests in the back yard). Autumn there looks lovely - the marzipan autumnal treats! Too fun.

Ooo la la! Les chocolate covered almonds - c'est marvellous! That Swiss bakery in town has some - but before the chocolate coating goes on, a the almonds are dipped into a thin coating of carmelized sugar (hard crack stage) so thin that it just adds a hint of sweet crunch to the experience! You are squirrelling away a lot of subject matter! Thank heaven, we will be able to count on your stash this winter.